Titled “The Southern Music Symposium” the event — presented by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the UM — will examine a series of questions surrounding the contemporary state of southern music.

The symposium will feature presentations by southern music scholars including a keynote on religion and rock 'n' roll by Dr. Randall J. Stephens (Reader and Associate Professor of History and American Studies, Northumbria University). Additionally, Rhodes College faculty members Zandria Robinson and Dr. Charles Hughes will participate in a roundtable discussion, while UM students will present their research on southern music and culture.

Composer and musician Wu Fei.(Photo: Maggie Jones/News Sentinel)

Set for the Overby Center for Journalism and Politics (555 Grove Loop) on the UM campus, the program starts at 1 p.m. Monday.

Rhodes College’s Hughes says the event presents “an opportunity to not only think about the state of Southern music in all its vibrancy and complexity … but also the way Southern music and musicians can help us get a grasp of deeper cultural and political dynamics. Adds Hughes: “Southern music continues to give us a language to understand race and gender and class, as well as political change and cultural change.”

Memphis rapper Marco Pavé.

Later that evening at 8, Proud Larry’s in downtown Oxford will host a showcase concert featuring punk rocker Bains, rapper Pavé, and instrumentalist Fei. The musicians will also participate in a panel discussion during the symposium at 4 p.m.

“It’s a great thing, in that this symposium brings together academic types but also musicians," says Hughes. "What I love is that it ends with a great concert but also includes the musicians on the panel during the day. I think it’s going to be a great conversation and an opportunity to learn about a lot of these issues."

Supremes in Mississippi

Founding member of the Supremes, Mary Wilson, will be at the Grammy Museum in Cleveland, Mississippi on March 9.(Photo: Maggie Huber, Special to The C-J)

Another upcoming regional event of interest to soul music fans will take place at the Grammy Museum in Cleveland, Mississippi, as it explores the legacy and influence of Motown artists The Supremes.

The museum will debut a new exhibit called “Legends of Motown: Celebrating The Supremes" on March 3. Supremes member Mary Wilson will appear as part of a Q&A event on March 9.

The exhibit — curated by the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles — "will offer visitors a unique look at the life and career of one of the most successful American singing groups of the '60s, (The) Supremes, through rare artifacts from the private collection of founding member Ms. Mary Wilson."

The exhibit will be on display through September 3 and feature photographs, concert posters, tour books, fan memorabilia and stage costumes from Wilson's archives.

In conjunction with the exhibit, Wilson will appear at the museum for two programs on March 9. A daytime educational event called "Women in Music" — featuring Wilson and Mississippi native and songwriter/producer Tena Clark — will take place at 11 a.m. Later that night, the museum presents "An Evening with Mary Wilson" starting at 7.

The evening event with Wilson will include cocktails and dinner. Tickets to the event are $150. To purchase or for more information go to grammymuseumms.org